Wild Flower (Bleach × Demon Slayer)

8 - Truth within the Rain: Plight of The Butterfly

(Chapter unedited.)

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Truth within the Rain: Plight of The Butterfly

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What an unforeseen event. He didn't expect to encounter the subject of his curiosity in a street of 17th District. Sleeping in his arms like babe, shivering at the cold weather, clutching him as her source of warmth while her pale lips trembled and her face scrunched up from pain. He can see clearly the cause of her discomfort since he can taste the iron as he smelled it in the air, clinging the girl like a second skin, seeping her wet bandages now loosely clung in her legs as well as her wrist.

Just how reckless is this girl to not receive proper treatment? She must be quite stubborn to able have her way and allowed Captain Unohana for her early discharge.

Was he worried at the subject sleeping in his arms? No, not necessarily. He was just confused. Isn't pain and blood one of the biggest fears by humans haunted on about when they were alive? If not, why endure when it doesn't benefit you when it would only worsen the state of your body?

The girl seems to be say the latter. She had obviously walked a great distance where she came from, and now he was carrying her to the destination she pleaded him to go despite the offer to bring her to a clinic. With the unconscious girl in his arms, her light breaths and clenched fists in his shihakushō, it should be the first thing she would come up in this situation, especially the condition of her health.

But why at Red Light? It is the home place of Pleasure District-as people would sometimes call the 14th District-and the building would be currently full of enthusiastic customers and outgoing Oiran, he can't think of any reason why the girl chose to go there. Other than that, she doesn't seem to be a member of Niji Ōu; Black Light nor White Light, neither was likely. He was sure of that fact.

Well, either way, no need to dwell on that, since he can see the towering building in the distance as he slowly approached the boundary between 15th and 14th. When he arrives at Red Light, he will draw answers why his subject of curiosity wanted to be there instead.

📝

Hara smiled brightly, as per procedure. In truth, she was actually tired. All she wanted right now was rest in a fitful sleep and have sweet dreams instead of a nightmare. The incident may be a one-time event but she can't forget the fear she felt when she set her eyes on the amalgamated snake that managed to slither its way to her home while it attempted to attack her, defenseless.

It was a wonder why the abominated snake caused this much panic from her when she thought she was already used seeing stray animals-sometimes, insects; mostly spiders-barging in her home and handled it herself when this particular snake managed to shook her core, degrading her into a trembling, whimpering mess in the corner of her house instead of shooing it away like usual.

Perhaps it was the snake's eccentric appearance? Probably. Its form did unnerved her and she can't forget how it swiftly lunged to her as it attempted to bury its fangs to her while she flailed around like a madwoman in her home before it slipped away from her skin, hissing at her and raised her voice to a scream, asking for help.

Hara will be forever grateful to Kanao for the quick disposal at the snake. Their first meeting may be brief, but she can recognize the girl who sat in her home, glancing and gazing at every people as they walked passed her, trying to ignore her piercing eyes directed at them before they eventually got used to it.

It was kinda amusing seeing the apprehensive look of the visitors as they enter 14th District-by extension, Flower District. Some even say it was the rite of passage to endure the stare of this observer, while some joked she was a guardian who looks after the Flower District and scans the potential threat entering the district.